Noda’s Hedged Reassurances on Fukushima Daiichi

The biggest question for many foreigners thinking about visiting Japan is whether the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is now safe enough. Reviving their fear recently was a letter from a U.S. senator to Japanese and American officials warning of the huge potential danger of the spent fuel pool at the No.4 reactor.

So when JRT got a chance to interview the prime minister Saturday, we asked his views of the current state of the crippled plant.

The answers from Mr. Noda — a conscientious speaker often willing to examine carefully different aspects of a single matter — were not so clear cut.

“Basically, we no longer have a situation where more people have to evacuate due to problems like melting fuel rods,” he said.

Mr. Noda noted that that the effort to stabilize the plant had reached a milestone known as “cold shutdown” in December. But he also acknowledged: “Since then, we have had minor problems like water leaks, and I think we need to remain vigilant.”

“We have passed a situation where people have to run far away or evacuate,” he said. “Ahead of us are time-consuming tasks like decontamination and decommissioning (of the plants). We will proceed with the utmost care.”

MSM lack of coverage of this possible life ending event is criminal. Reactor 4 spent fuel rod pool could trigger life ending in the northern hemisphere as we know it. Follow Arnie Gundersen at Fair Winds to get an idea of the scope of the problem

About Japan Real Time

Japan Real Time is a newsy, concise guide to what works, what doesn’t and why in the one-time poster child for Asian development, as it struggles to keep pace with faster-growing neighbors while competing with Europe for Michelin-rated restaurants. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, the site provides an inside track on business, politics and lifestyle in Japan as it comes to terms with being overtaken by China as the world’s second-biggest economy. You can contact the editors at japanrealtime@wsj.com